Extension-table



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. CLARK, OF MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,733, dated December 1, 1857.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. CLARK, of Mount Pleasant, in the county of Henry and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Extension-Table; and I do hereby declare that the following isla full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a. part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view of my improvement in an extended state. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of ditto. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of ditto in a closed state. Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the difference between the folding or extension devices of the old and improved tables.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of extension tables in which hinged or folding side rails are employed as an extension or folding device.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A, A', represent two strips or pieces which form the ends of the extension frame and B, B, B', B', on the hinged or folding rails which form the sides of the extension frame, there being two rails at each side. The inner ends of the rails B, B', are connected by hinges (a) (a') and the outer ends are connected to the ends of the strips or pieces A, A', by hinges (Z9).

At each end of each end piece A, A', a leg C is secured, and to the legs of the end piece A side pieces D are secured. The side pieces D are mortised into the legs to which they are attached so as to form a firm and durable connection and the outer ends of the pieces D are beveled and have each a hole made longitudinally in them toreceive when the table is folded or closed dowels (c) which are attached to beveled projections (d) on the legs of the end piece A', of the extension frame, see more particularly Fig. 3.

To the legs C of the end piece A', fixed pieces E are attached, one to each. The pieces E are equal in length to the side pieces D, thin upper edges or surfaces being on the same level with that of the side pieces D. The lower edges of the pieces however do not extend down more than one half the distance or depth of the pieces D and thin lower edges are curved as shown clearly in Fig. l.

To the inner sides of the side pieces D, fixed pieces F are attached. The lower edges of these pieces are flush with the edges of the side pieces D, but thin upper edges are curved and correspond inversely with the curved lower edges of the pieces F, see Fig. l, in which the piece F, at one side of the table is shown in dotted lines. The fixed pieces E, F, are in the same plane as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, and .when the table is folded together they fit one over the other compactly.

By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the pieces B, B', of the folding rails at each side of the table are of unequal lengths, the pieces B, being considerably shorter than the pieces B', and it will also be seen that the longer pieces B', are attached one to each end piece A, A', and consequently the hinges (a) (a') will be out of line with each other, or, out of a line parallel with the end pieces A, A. Consequently as the side rails are folded the hinges (o) (a') will be allowed to pass each other and fold conipactly between the end pieces A, A', in a diagonal manner, or so that the shorter rails will be parallel to each other and to the end pieces A, A', while the longer rails will be diagonal to both; and a series of these diagonal foldings if needed may be used to increase the length of the table by making one or more cross bars with center legs.

In the ordinary tables pro-vided with folding rails (ax) the rails are of equal length as shown in Fig. 4, and in Order to obtain a table that would extend a length equal to that shown in Figs. 3 and 5, four or more rails would be required at each side, because if the rails (ax) were made longer than those represented their inner ends could not pass each other. Thus it .will be seen that by having the folding rails B, B', of unequal length a number of hinges or joints 1s dispensed with and the table is rendered much stiffer than those constructed in the ordinary way. By having the side pieces D and fixed pieces E, F, arranged as shown the talole is firmly secured together when folded and prevented from working, and dowels are fitted in the rails B, B, which when the table is extended fit in the fixed pieces E, F, as shown in Fig. 2.

Folding rails have been previously einployed, and a patent was granted to Benjamin Clark J any 6th, 1857, for an extension table in which folding rails are employed,

but the rails were of equal length as shown in Fig. 4. Fixed side pieces were also employed but the outer ones, corresponding to the side pieces D in my improvement, were formed of two parts of equal length which at one end are framed into the legs of the table in the usual way.

I would remark that the leaves I-I of the l table, as also the supports I are of usual construction and do not require a minute description.

I do not claim broadly the employment or use of folding rails applied to extension tables irrespective of the arrangement herein shown, neither do I claim the employment or use of'xed side pieces irrespective of the peculiar arrangement as herein shown and described for said parts have been previously used; but

Having thus described my invention7 what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

Having the jointed or folding side rails B, B, made of unequal lengths and applied to the end pieces A, A, as shown in the.

drawing for the purpose set forth.

CHAS. B. CLARK. Witnesses:

WJTUSCH, I. W. CooMs. 

